Femsplain: Feminism Full-Time

$30,608

780

SUCESS! Our Kickstarter has been funded!

Now that we've hit our goal and secured funding to pay our contributors and pay for our servers, we'd love to extend the love to the rest of our team.

With a week left to go, all your added backing will help pay our volunteer editors who put in their time and effort to help run Femsplain. Please help us compensate their hard work in the next week!

We're a small group with a big mission: changing how women are viewed and discussed.

+ What

Femsplain.com is a fully functional, community-powered publisher founded in October 2014 to inspire change through storytelling.

We are a place to share experiences, all of life’s moments from the awkward to the amazing, and everything in between. We're more than a website or events — we're a movement. We are providing a safe space to connect, learn and grow with other female-identified people. Everything you see was written by someone like you.

We're a diverse collective (sexuality, racial, economic, career, geographical, etc.) of doers who have made it our mission to change the dialogue of what it's like to be a woman –– and in doing so, make our world a better place.

+ Why

Because a quarter of young women have been stalked or sexually harassed online, and the only way to stop it is by spreading awareness. Because Leelah Alcorn died feeling alone. Because the perpetrators of #GamerGate are going out of their way to make women feel unsafe.

This has to change.

We sought to elevate these conversations by curating content that challenged the way the world saw us, but we couldn’t find anything that resonated. So, we decided to build it ourselves.

Our community doubles each month; clearly there is a need for a place like this, and we need your help sustaining our expansion.

+ You

So why Kickstarter?

Content is regularly rolling in and we’ve received Internet love from celebs like Lena Dunham and Tyler Oakley. With zero fundraising or advertising budget, we’ve earned impressive pageviews. Our community is active, supportive and troll-free; plus we’ve already thrown a live event. All of this while we work full-time jobs.

Clearly something is working.

We’re on Kickstarter because you deserve a chance to become a part of this revolution. Because we believe that our progress is contingent on your support, and we need your help to define and move this space forward.

What you're supporting

Quality Content: We understand that we’re only as powerful as our stories and would like to (initially) cover costs to pay our featured contributors for a year.

What does that entail? While we have various levels of contributors, there are an elite few who have committed to leading the charge. With 15 of these writers currently in our ranks, we’d like to offer them $100 per piece. That’s well above the industry standard — because we believe their time is valuable and quality content is an investment.

Upgrading Your Experience: Our goal is to not only to provide you the best content possible, but to make it the best experience possible. We’ve been in the trenches and realize it’s paramount to make it easier to engage with, share and discover the content that inspires you.

What’s does that take? Around $3,000 and some developer magic. Hit us up with your ideas to hi@femsplain.com; this is for you, by you.

Tech Maintenance Fees: Keeping a website alive isn’t cheap. We need your help to expand while preserving our existing content. As we scale we’ll need a dedicated server to maintain our infrastructure, and fees will increase (~$600/month). This includes Google Mail services.

+ Who

We started out as "Internet friends” and met simply because we were fans of each other’s work. Our friendship blossomed across platforms, as we shifted from being Twitter to IRL buddies, and then upgraded to group chats. We wanted to fill the void we saw out there and were tired of waiting for it to happen. So we decided to take our relationship into a professional context.

We are all experts in our own right. Amber has a deep understanding and experience in growing communities from the ground up. She’s mastered the ins and outs of a successful native advertising campaign while employed at her previous jobs. Gabriela comes from a journalism background, with a deep understanding of millennial and emerging Internet trends.

Together, we hope to be an instrument for change.

Meet the team:

Amber Gordon (Founder) - Former Creative Strategist at Tumblr and prior to that, the social media strategist/community manager behind Denny's. She's passionate about online community building and Internet culture. At 15, she spent an entire summer indoors teaching herself how to code.

Gabriela Barkho (Founding Editor) - Equal parts reporter and social media maven. The Rutgers University Journalism grad’s work has appeared in The Daily Dot, Charged Magazine, Backstage, WBGO fm, etc. When she’s not Femsplaining, she spends her time perfecting content (both her own and others’) and honing her communication skills.

Jeanette Fabre (Content Coordinator) - A recent LIM Fashion Merchandising graduate. Prior to Femsplain, Jeanette was a fashion assistant for celebrities and commercial shoots. She wants to utilize her knowledge of style to further empower readers to be confident in themselves.

Jacqueline Mirell (Web Things) - Currently getting her Masters degree abroad in London. Deals with user experience, with a side of digital editorial — an Internet explorer. She’s a New York native who firmly believes that you should fold your pizza slice. She also really likes miniature-sized things.

+ Rewards

WALL OF THANKS - Here’s your chance to join the revolution and have your name in lights. We’ll list you on our Femsplain.com’s Wall of Thanks — plus you’ll score all the updates and get the inside scoop on what we’ve got up our sleeves.

INTERNET LOVE - To show you just how much we appreciate each and every one of you, one of us will record a personalized thank-you on Femsplain’s Vine account. That’s mad Internet love. Scoop this up for yourself, your bestie or any other awesome person you know. (And you’ll be listed on the Wall of Thanks, natch.)

BADGE OF HONOR - Show off how much you support the cause in style. We’ll send over some (3) sweet transparent Femsplain logo stickers for you to rock, plus you’ll get the internet love and rad Vine. (And obviously you'll be listed on our Wall of Thanks.)

ALL THE COOKIES - Because who doesn’t love a box of cookies? Our friends at Flourpower NY will whip up a fresh batch of sugar cookies just for you. There’ll be peach lips, our logo, key lime pie and hearts — oh my! Oh, and did we mention one of the cookies will legit have your name on it? (Plus you’ll be listed on our Wall of Thanks, naturally.)

STYLIN' THREADS - Missed out on the chance to get your members-only jacket? Have no fear, we’re hooking you up with the hottest look in town. You’ll have the choice between 4 different graphics on a high quality white T-Shirt, co-designed by Femsplain and Saskia Keultjes. (And a shout out on the Wall of Thanks, obvs.)

Add +$75 to your order to get another shirt design of your choice!

AVATAR AWAY - Ever gotten avatar envy? We’ve got your back. You send us a picture, and our friend Saskia Keultjes will draw a digital version of your face (or your name in the Femsplain logo, if you’re a little on the shy side). (You’ll also get featured on our Wall of Thanks, plus our Badge of Honor and Internet Love loot listed above.)

BRUNCH & BRAINSTORM - Break bread and get to know the fab Femsplain founders over a Latin style bottomless brunch. Join us for an intimate gathering where you'll get to meet some badasses, get inspired and make shit happen. Unlimited sangria anyone? (This also includes a limited edition T-Shirt, the Badge of Honor swag, being featured on our Wall of Thanks and a handwritten note from @missambear.)

MORE INFO: Join us at Rayuela for a 2-hour bottomless sangria and Latin-style brunch with 14 of your fellow supporters and all of the Femsplain team. We’ll be planning 7 brunches towards the end of April through May. Each brunch event will be around a different theme with an expert on that topic attending. You’ll get to pick one of the 7 brunch dates to attend via Eventbrite. (First come first serve for each brunch).

VIRTUAL HANGS - Seeing all these events in New York and getting FOMO? No worries, we’re on it. Join Femsplain's founders and small crew of your peers for a one-hour Google+ hangout and brainstorm sesh.

We’ll also send over a care package of a few of our fav things from NYC, so it’s like you’re actually there.

MORE INFO: We’ll provide a few dates/times for you to hangout with us. We’ll also let you know what’s in our care packages ahead of time in case you have any allergies.

RED CARPET STATUS - Roll back the velvet rope with our first edition VIP card. Be the first to know about any of our events, get tickets before they go on sale, substantial discounts to our shindigs, limited edition swag, reserved seats and exclusive access to our featured speakers. As if that weren’t already awesome enough, you’ll get a sneak peek at Femsplain articles before they go live to the general public. Oh, and you’ll be listed as a VIP on our Wall of Thanks — this is not a joke, your name will literally sparkle.

MORE INFO: Upon successful Kickstarter you will be mailed a physical card along with a digital membership #. We also plan to throw a Kickstarter celebration party in NYC towards the end of March which your VIP will apply towards.

Any other questions? amber@femsplain.com

HOST A WORKSHOP - Help us teach new skills and spark the revolution by hosting an event with a featured instructor. We’ll cover topics like coding, cooking and careers, and everything in between.

You choose which topic you want to host and we’ll take care of making it happen. We’ll work with you on how to best represent you or your company and make sure that everybody knows just how amazing you are.

For more information please contact amber@femsplain.com

EXPERIENCES PARTNER - Join us on our quest to make the world a better place, one themed showcase at a time. We’ll be kicking off with a comedy show on February 13, filled with Galentine's Day horror stories.

As one of our partners you’ll have access to a curated group of influencers and the attention of everyone in their powerful networks. You’ll also get featured on our promotional flyers, newsletters, socials, etc. — and the usual marketing good stuff.

For more information please contact amber@femsplain.com

+ Love

"Nothing excites me more than seeing incredibly-smart-capable-and-driven-women-getting-shit-done, which is why the thing I am excited about most in 2015 is the continual rise of Femsplain, Amber Gordon’s love letter to the female voice and experience, launched this past October. " - Jazmine Hughes via BuzzFeed

“ The stories are deeply confessional—where similar sites unapologetically ask for your activism or outrage, Femsplain stories are about first experiences with Xanax and sending nude selfies, or building an IRL life using Twitter as a jumping-off point, and have empathy as their priority.” - New York Observer

“Gordon’s openness is part of what makes her project so exciting and her voice so refreshing.” - HelloGiggles

Support

Select this reward

Pledge $5 or more
About $5

WALL OF THANKS:
Here’s your chance to join the revolution and have your name in lights. We’ll list you on our Femsplain.com’s Wall of Thanks — plus you’ll score all the updates and get the inside scoop on what we’ve got up our sleeves.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $15 or more
About $15

INTERNET LOVE:
To show you just how much we appreciate each and every one of you, one of us will record a personalized thank-you on Femsplain’s Vine account. That’s mad Internet love. Scoop this up for yourself, your bestie or any other awesome person you know.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

ALL THE COOKIES:
Because who doesn’t love a box of cookies? Our friends at Flourpower NY will whip up a fresh batch of sugar cookies just for you. There’ll be peach lips, our logo, key lime pie and hearts — oh my! Oh, and did we mention one of the cookies will legit have your name on it? (Plus you’ll be listed on our Wall of Thanks, naturally.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

STYLIN THREADS:
Missed out on the chance to get your members-only jacket? Have no fear, we’re hooking you up with the hottest look in town. You’ll have the choice between 4 different graphics on a high quality white T-Shirt, co-designed by Femsplain and Saskia Keultjes. (And a shout out on the Wall of Thanks, obvs.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

AVATAR AWAY:
Ever gotten avatar envy? We’ve got your back. You send us a picture, and our friend Saskia Keultjes will draw a digital version of your face (or your name in the Femsplain logo, if you’re a little on the shy side).

(You’ll also get featured on our Wall of Thanks, plus our Badge of Honor and Internet Love loot listed above.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

BRUNCH & BRAINSTORM:
Break bread and get to know the fab Femsplain founders over a Latin style bottomless brunch. Join us for an intimate gathering where you'll get to meet some badasses, get inspired and make shit happen. Unlimited sangria anyone?

(This also includes a limited edition T-Shirt, the Badge of Honor swag, being featured on our Wall of Thanks and a handwritten note from @missambear.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

RED CARPET STATUS:
Roll back the velvet rope with our first edition VIP card. Be the first to know about any of our events, get tickets before they go on sale, substantial discounts to our shindigs, limited edition swag, reserved seats and exclusive access to our featured speakers. As if that weren’t already awesome enough, you’ll get a sneak peek at Femsplain articles before they go live to the general public.

Oh, and you’ll be listed as a VIP on our Wall of Thanks — this is not a joke, your name will literally sparkle.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,500 or more
About $2,500

HOST A WORKSHOP:
Help us teach new skills and spark the revolution by hosting an event with a featured instructor. We’ll cover topics like coding, cooking and careers, and everything in between.

You choose which topic you want to host and we’ll take care of making it happen. We’ll work with you on how to best represent you or your company and make sure that everybody knows just how amazing you are.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

EXPERIENCES PARTNER:
Join us on our quest to make the world a better place, one themed showcase at a time. We’ll be kicking off with a comedy show on February 13, filled with Galentine's Day horror stories.

As one of our partners you’ll have access to a curated group of influencers and the attention of everyone in their powerful networks. You’ll also get featured on our promotional flyers, newsletters, socials, etc. — and the usual marketing good stuff.